"Upside Down" helicopter puts a new twist on ceiling fans

Upside Down is a ceiling fan by Raffaele Iannello that takes the form of a 1:6 scale model of a Hughes/MD 500 helicopter

A ceiling fan doesn't usually act as the conversation piece or focal point of a room, but that rule doesn't apply to the bizarrely-yet-accurately named Upside Down ceiling fan from Italian designer Raffaele Iannello.

Upside Down is a fully-functional fan that looks like a helicopter has landed on the ceiling. It more than looks like a helicopter; it is in fact a 1:6 scale model of the Hughes/MD 500 model. With a black and silver landing pad that acts as the ceiling fixture, the aluminum and fiberglass helicopter hangs upside down, as its name suggests it should. The four carbon fiber blades are capable of rotating at three different speeds, all controlled by the supplied remote control. With a diameter of 140 cm (55 inches) the Upside Down blades will create quite a draft, while the helicopter chassis will create quite a stir.

This novelty ceiling fan made its debut at the 2012 Milan Design Week and forms part of the Raffaele Iannello Limited Editions series. This means it will only be available to buy in high-end concept stores or art galleries. However, should you manage to get your hands on one you'll likely never be short of a conversation starter in your own house.

Dave is a technology journalist with a ravenous appetite for gadgets, gizmos, and gubbins. He's based in the U.K., and from his center of operations writes about all facets of modern and future technology. He has learned more in his five years writing for the Web than he did in 11 years at school, and with none of the boring subjects thrown in to the mix. All articles by Dave Parrack